Mark your calendars: the road to the 2026 World Cup officially begins on Thursday, December 5 at 12:00 p.m. noon ET, when the final draw takes place at the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The biggest World Cup tournament ever
The announcement came during a high-profile meeting at the White House between President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, where the two leaders confirmed the date and venue for next summer’s showpiece. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, the draw will determine the group-stage matchups that will shape the opening phase of the largest World Cup tournament in history.
Las Vegas was previously considered the possible host city for the event, but the road ultimately leads to the U.S. capital and the recently refurbished Kennedy Center.
Trump called the event “a tremendous honor‚” emphasizing the cultural significance of hosting the draw in the heart of the nation’s capital. FIFA’s president echoed the sentiment, saying the Kennedy Center will serve as the perfect stage to kick off what he described as the biggest sporting event ever.
“The World Cup is the biggest sporting event. And on December 5 of this year, the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place at the Kennedy Center, here in Washington D.C. It’s a great honor to bring this event to this city with such an incredible team. The Kennedy Center will give the tournament a phenomenal kickoff,” Trump explained during Friday’s press conference at the White House.
About the 2026 World Cup draw
The draw will determine the 12 groups A-L for the group stage of the competition - each group will contain four teams. Among those already confirmed are the three host nations: United States, Mexico and Canada along with Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Australia, Jordan, Ecuador, and Brazil.
Infantino presents the World Cup trophy and the first ticket to President Trump
Infantino presented the World Cup trophy to the US President in the Oval Office. Infantino referred to Trump as “a winner,” explaining that only a select group are allowed to hold the trophy — a symbolic gesture that Trump accepted with a smile.
Infantino added: “This is the trophy that will be awarded to the winners of the World Cup. Only the FIFA President, world leaders, and champions can hold it — and since you are a winner, you may touch it. The last person to lift it was Lionel Messi, and now it’s here in the Oval Office”.
In addition to the trophy, Infantino also handed Trump the first official ticket to the 2026 tournament, revealing what appears to be the design of the matchday tickets. The ticket was labeled Row 1, Seat 1, and bore the number 45/47, a nod to Trump’s unique position as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
The moment was lighthearted, with Trump joking: “Can I keep it? Don’t think I’m giving it back,” while pointing to a spot in his office where he might display the trophy